Teenage menaces who thought they were above the law are facing the boot from the estates they terrorised.

Teenage menaces who thought they were above the law are facing the boot from the estates they terrorised.

Young troublemakers who made neighbours' lives hell through their yobbish antics are set to be turfed out of their homes.

Now parents of the hooligans are living under the shadow of eviction for failing to control their wild sons.

Police and housing chiefs from North Tyneside Council swooped on four homes in North Shields in a bid to tackle the gang on the New York estate.

The four - Ian Leck, 16, of Simonburn Avenue, Lee Thorpe, 15, of Norham Road North, Michael Barrass, 15, of Phoenix Chase, and Paul Mortimer, 16, of Guisborough Drive, have had dozens of brushes with the law, harassing residents and causing street disorder.

Mum Michelle Welsh, 37, of Simonburn Avenue, was given a final warning for the behaviour of her 16-year-old son Ian Leck.

Police tried to get him to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement promising to mend his ways - but his parents refused to sign up.

The council has also started eviction proceedings against the family of Lee Thorpe for their home in Norham Road North. His mum Jayne Walters, 37, was given a notice seeking possession.

Mum-of-four Tracy Barker, 33, has already been served with possession proceedings because of her 15-year-old son Michael Barrass.

She was given a reminder that the council will seek an eviction order unless she leaves the house in Phoenix Chase - but says she will fight them all the way.

Tracy said: "I have tried to control Michael. He won't dare do anything in the house but it is a different story once he gets outside."

Alice Mortimer, 59, has also been served with possession proceedings for her son Paul's behaviour.

The mum-of-four is seeking legal advice and has the support of neighbours who have signed a petition protesting at the council's plans.

They say it is not her fault. Five years ago, Paul was diagnosed with ADHD, Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder, and since then the family have fought a losing battle to control him.

Mrs Mortimer, who has two married daughters and a son in the Army, said: "I have done everything in my power, he doesn't understand because of the condition."

Paul was a normal, healthy boy, although slightly hyperactive, until he was about nine, when behaviour problems really began. By the time he was 11, the condition was diagnosed by a specialist.

Mrs Mortimer said: "I am not just blaming the condition. He is easily-led and he got in with the wrong crowd."

Worried sick, she can't sleep or stop crying at the thought of losing the family's home.

Petition organiser Sheila Nellist, who lives opposite the Mortimers in Guisborough Drive, said: "We could do a lot worse than Alice. She keeps her home nice and I think it is really unfair because she has done everything in her power to help her son.

"Putting them out of their home isn't the answer."

Colin Boxshall, North Shields housing manager, said: "These four youths are well-known for being associated with anti-social behaviour on North Shields housing estates, especially in the New York and Moor Park area.

"The council and police are determined to ensure everyone is able to enjoy peace and quiet in their homes."

Sgt Frank Best of Northumbria Police said: "We have a zero tolerance approach to street disorder."

North Tyneside Council has slashed youth disorder on council estates in a series of crackdowns.

So far the council has evicted 15 tenants for anti-social behaviour and another 18 have left their home at the threat of court action. More than 50 youths who have got into trouble have signed Acceptable Behaviour Agreements.